brown



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

E. J. BROWN. FOLDING CRATE.

N0.5,7 7,280. PatentedFeb. 16,1897.

[dwar'tz Brawn 81406441306 WWI/MAJ (No ModeL}. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. J. BROWN. FOLDING CRATE.

Patented Feb 16, 1897.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TO WILLIAM MCLEOD,

OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING CRATE.

' SPEGIFIOATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 577,280, dated February 16, 1897.

Application filed August 21,

1896. Serial No. 603,548. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hemock, in the county of Livingstonand State of New York, have invented a new and useful Folding Crate, a specification.

My invention relates to an improved folding crate, its object being to produce a crate strong and substantial when in use and which can be folded into a small and compact form for shipment, storage, 850.

The invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then pointed out in the claim. Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of my crate set up viewed from the rear, showing one of the ends moved slightly out of position and the top raised. Fig. 2 is a the crate set up,

rear sides, respectively,

ends,

by thin metalstrips.

rear perspective view of my crate in the closed or folded form. Fig.3 is a top plan view of the crate set up with the top removed. Fig.

4 is a transverse central vertical section of the same folded being shown in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the bottom of the crate, B and O the front and D D the ends, and E the top, all constructed of wood, the bottom being preferably solid, and the sides, and top formed of slats held together The front side B of the crate is inwardly hinged at 1 to the bottom'A, the slats forming this side being held together by thin metal strips 6, one near each vertical edge of the side, the upper ends of each strip being formed with a hole 2.

The rear side 0 is outwardly hinged to the bottom A at 3, its slats being secured together by thin metal strips 0, similar to strips b on slats of each end are the front side, and having holes 2 formed therein near the upper ends.

The ends D are inwardly hinged at 4 to the,

inner edges of ledges D, which are secured to the bottom A, as shown, these ledges being of a height equal to the thickness of the slatscomposing the front of the crate. The held together by two thin metal strips (1, which extend some distance beyond. the vertical edges of the ends,

of which the following is 7 this extended portion being bent inwardat a right angle, as at 5, for a purpose hereinafter described.

6 are thin plates secured on the upper slat of each end, one of the plates being near each end of the slat. The ends of these plates adjacent to. the ends of the slat are bent inward at a right angle, as at 6, lying parallel with the right-angled portion 5 of strips (1 and forming with that portion a narrow recess for the reception of the edges of the front and rear sides when the crate is set up. The

right-angled portions 5 and 6 are perforated near their upper ends in horizontal alinemen-t,as at 7. Chains E are secured to each end and have at their free ends a small pinbolt 8 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The top E of the crate, the slats of which are secured together by right-angled metal strips 9, is inwardly hinged at 10 to the rear side 0, thus permitting the top to be folded inward on the rear side, as shown.

In the folded position of the crate the front is turned inward on the-bottom, the ends are turned inward, resting on the front side, the ledges permitting the ends to lie flat, and the front side being somewhat narrower than the bottom to allow the right-angled portions 5 and 6 to pass the top is turned inward on the rear side, and together with the rear side is turned back and beneath the bottom, thus causing the crate to assume when folded a small and compact form for. shipment, stor age, or the like.

.Assuming the crate to be folded as described, when it. is desired to be set up the ends.D*are turned up, the lower slat in each being slightly beveled, as at 11, to permit the end to pass slightly beyond a perpendicular, the front side is turned to a vertical position, and the rear side and the top are then turned to a vertical position and the ends moved the right-angled portions 5 and 6 snugly embracing the respective edges of the front and rear sides, as shown. The bolts are now passed through the holes 7, passing also through the holes 2 in the strips b and 0, thus securing the crate in a set-up position ready to be used as a receptacle.

Itwill be observed that by the use of thin inward, the recesses between securing the slats of the various parts of the crate together I am enabled to cause the crate to lie snug and flat when folded; also, that the means of securing the edges of the front and rear sides to the ends are simple and efiective and in no way interfere with the folding of the crate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- In a folding crate, a solid bottom, a front side composed of slats inwardly hinged to the bottom, the slats being held together with metal strips, a rear side and top hinged thereto composed of slatshcld together by metal strips, said rear side being outwardly hinged to the bottom, and ends composed of slats held together by thin strips, the outer metal plates in ends of which are bent inwardly at a right angle, thin plates also secured to the ends and having their inner edges turned inward at a right angle forming with the right-angled portions on the strips a narrow recess to receive the edges of the front and rear sides when the crate is set ,up, said ends being inwardly hinged to the bottom and carrying chains having bolts adapted to securely hold the ends and front and rear sides together, as and for the purposes stated.

In testimony that I claim the'foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD J. BROWN.

Witnesses:

HARRY ROGERS, FRANK H. DUNN. 

